Transition

posted Jun 20, 2009, 1:26 PM by Lucian Cosinschi

As some of you know I do acknowledge that there is a problem with me being the
only one able to change some of the things on the site. I am glad this issue
surfaced and we can use this opportunity as it would give everyone in the new
group the ability to have a say in everything related to this project: overall
name, web platform, slogan, colours, direction, principles etc. Obviously I
will help with the transition and I will follow it because I think it may be an
interesting project. However, I will not associate with it in the same way I
used to. As it now stands this project is a very different project than what I had in mind. It
seems to me that now even some of the basic things are in contradiction
with the framework I am trying to build. While this is a somewhat
expected (but not hoped for) development, I cannot endorse it anymore
- please take the time to build/find another platform to work on, other thanProjectVolunteering.

The things that
changed are of various importance for me but some of them are part of the crux
of my (personal) project. Here is a short, incomplete and unordered list:

-Actively
friendly. It doesn't seem to me that this group makes efforts to come together
in a friendly way. Obviously there are some efforts but the 'openness' is
used for 'you are also allowed to be unfriendly'. 'We don't know what is good
for you' does not mean that everything goes. Actively friendly is for me the
basic social environment, it is the expression of trust. Active
communication is a huge part of it - both in person and online. While forms and
timing may vary, intentionally averting from it is outrageous.

-Living
basics (apart from actively friendly). Rent, cleaning, working... Both the rent
'problem' and the 'cleaning' problem are, rooted in the same place-we're not
committed to making of what we have a life. I believe every minute of my life
is part of my life and I try to make it. Trying to mend the situation by rules doesn't cut it for me because I think
rules are counter productive to the project I started. Rules point to
problems but do not substitute our lack of interest.

-Action now – regardless of costs! I do see the value of spontaneity but I also see some of its weaknesses. I do believe lots of the problems around us come from being spontaneous (particularly tragic when well intentioned). Even if I do agree with 'action rather then non-action' principle I believe that thinking for a while before and after the action is by far the better way of doing it. Increment rather then having revolutions. At the moment, I don't see a learning process, moreover and I notice a conscious move away from that ideal. Action coupled with no documentation is a particularly dangerous animal regardless of intentions. Patience is critical and, especially lately I find it lacking.

For me these are
things that worth drawing a line for because these are the basics of the world
I like to live in. What we do is just as important as how we do it. Having
rules for basic things and the way we turn to them transforms this project into
something else.
For me the name issue is along with rent, cleanliness etc, just another symptom of the
current situation. ( I already changed the names of the two people I know
requested).

As this transition is a process it does not change any of my previous
commitments in fact. For the near future I will still live at the house, keep
my commitments, share what I can and work for the new project and the
transition. Obviously I hope my taking a step back will not affect in a bad way
the friendship relationships that I developed while working on this project as
I believe we build something beyond one project or another. As time passes I
will decide what part can I play in this new project but I feel I have to let
you know that I am taking the time and evaluating various possibilities.